The Big Bend Gazette has posted the annual financial reports from the Terlingua Common School District online. The documents were obtained under an Open Records Request by the Gazette and posted online with the assistance of Scott Watkins.

Recently, the Gazette learned the school had a deficit of almost $250,000 for the last school year, and is estimated to have a $2,850 surplus for the upcoming school year.

In our August print issue, the Gazette questions how the school spend $1.7 million from an investment account. Former Superintendent Kathy Killingsworth and current Superintendent Bobbie Jones have refused to answer numerous requests for comment on how the money was spent.

When asked about the fate of the $1.7 million at the school board meeting on August 20, outgoing board president Rick Page said, “I don’t know.” Page, the only school board president in 30 years, has resigned and will leave office mid-term and his seat is up for election in November.

At the same school board meeting, Jones assured the public the money had been spent legally and could be accounted for. Jones suggested this reporter meet with the school auditors in November and would not elaborate on how the money was spent.

Although other school districts in the region post financial documents on their website, the Terlingua School does not, and they are online for the first time.